The concept, functions, characteristics, structure and types of small groups in social psychology

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2018-03-27 21:01:18

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Every day, regardless of age, preferences, interests, social status and standard of living in contact with other people at work, school, environment, family, friends, acquaintances, and sometimes strangers. Formed various relations, social contacts. People unite in groups on interests, professional expertise and other characteristics. Anyway to communicate with other people directly affects the formation of personality and the determination of the place of the individual in social activities. The knowledge of certain psychological basis for the formation of groups can help people to choose their environment. Professional psychologists such information is necessary to create favorable conditions in the workplace and the supervisor helps you to organize appointments, monitor interpersonal activities of employees. Today we will share information about what are the different types of small groups and what are their characteristics.

Types of small groups

What is a small group in psychology?

In psychology, a small group called the Union of a small number of people who have a single point of contact for all participants in the link, there are some common social ties and joint activities. Such aggregate is formed in each team. The types of small groups in social psychology are distinguished by the method of forming: a natural or artificial way.

On the question of how many participants should be in small associations, debating psychologists and sociologists all over the world. Some experts argue that the creation of a small group is enough for two people. Others, meanwhile, believe that the types of relationships in a small group, consisting of dyads (two people), are completely different, they have their own features distinct from the characteristics of small enterprises of people. Therefore, proponents of such assumptions to prove a point that the minimum number of participants in small team should be 3 people.

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Even more controversy arises about the maximum number of people in small groups. In the works of different researchers can detect the number 10, 12 and even 40. In the writings of the famous psychiatrist Jacob Levi Moreno, who was actively engaged in the problem of social groups distinguished by the maximum number of participants in a small group. In his opinion, it is 50 people. But the best is the formation of the Association of 10–12 participants. Noted that in communities with a large number of people are more likely to occur in the divisions, thereby the formation of new types of small groups.

Types of small social groups

Distinctive features

To determine the collection of a small number of people as a small group, require the presence of certain distinctive features:

  1. Regular meetings of the participants.
  2. The Formation of a single purpose task.
  3. General operation.
  4. The presence of the structure, the definition of leader and Manager.
  5. Defining the role and scope of activities of each participant.
  6. Formation of internal interpersonal relationships within the group.
  7. Education, rules, traditions, norms in small groups.

The Natural formation of a small group

Almost always in large groups occurs unintentionally divide participants into smaller number of enterprises. Concept and types of small groups that were formed naturally, are determined by analyzing the distinctive features and characteristics. Separated people with the same interests, preferences, attitudes, psychological compatibility, and more. These associations are called informal.

Each environment has its own peculiarities division team members. This should be considered leaders and organizers of such communities as the formation of small groups affects capacity for work and General atmosphere in the team. For example, to organize effective learning activities in the children's team note that the composition of the informal groups established small changes literally every day, changing statuses and roles of the participants. Such associations can exist, under the guidance of an adult leader. Among children of different ages head has gained an excellent reputation.

In a professional informal groups to organize successful activities should also be a reasonable leader. Uncontrolled associations of workers in different kinds of small groups can sometimes have a negative impact on the company. To generalize people is able the dissatisfaction of participants in the leadership, working conditions, and other things that will lead to a strike, layoffs. Therefore, in large companies, where given the time and funds to personnel psychology, works as a staff psychologist. One of the tasks of such a specialist is the identification of associations of workers in the team and determination of their orientation activities. With the right approach, these groups can be used to improve the efficiency of the company.

Types of relationships in a small group

Formal

Allocate formal types of small social groups. Features such a team is that people come together not so much by individual desires and preferences, asthe need, status and professional qualifications. Formal small groups can include, for example, the Association of managerial staff of the company.

At the same time can be formed, exist and interact in formal and informal types of small groups in the organization. To managers and psychologists the task of implementation of the activities of such groups in the public purpose for development of the company.

Small groups

Small groups perform important functions in the growth and development of the individual and the team as a whole. Psychologists distinguish the following functions that are identical regardless of what types of small social groups exist in a particular Association of people:

  1. Socialisation of the individual. Starting with the youngest age a person learns to interact with others, formed preferences and attitudes, character and place in society.
  2. Expressive function is in determining a particular individual in a small group, his place in it. Thus is formed a level of self-esteem, personal and professional qualities, realized the need for human promotion and approval.
  3. The Instrumental function allows the individual to carry out the selected operation.
  4. A Function of psychological care is to support participants in overcoming personal and professional difficulties. Studies have been conducted that showed that the participants in small groups apply for assistance to colleagues even more often than to relatives. The explanation of this phenomenon may be the fact that the individual does not wish to injure and load their problems of loved ones. While the participants in a small group can listen, to give advice, but not to take to heart the information, leaving intact the personal space of the individual.

Types and functions of small groups depend on the choice of objectives and goals, the direction of social activities of such associations.

Types and functions of small groups

Classification of small groups

On what grounds is classified a small group? The types of small groups, characteristics of their activities are determined by analyzing certain indicators.

Exact division of such social cells does not exist. Psychologists developed a recommendation on the classification of such groups. Presented below reveal the types of small groups table.

ClassificationTypes
Method education

1. Informal

2. Formal

Form

1. Real

2. Conditional

The type of joint arrangement

1. Practical

2. Aesthetic

3. Ideological

4. Social

5. Political

6. Hedonic (total leisure)

7. Communicative and other

Social value

1. Positive

2. Asocial

3. Antisocial

Structure

The Types and structure of the little group are closely interrelated. Depending on which formed a kind of small enterprises, forming the inner structure of the community. It is an internal communication, social, emotional and psychological connection between the individual parties. Klassificeret structure as follows:

  1. Metric type based on interpersonal preferences and dislikes.
  2. Communication type is determined by the flow of information within the group, a way of communication between participants.
  3. Role structure is the distribution of provisions and activity between members of the small group. So, the group is divided into those who make decisions and those who make and support the actions.

the Types and structure of small group

Relationship between the participants of small groups

The Problem of interpersonal relations in the circle of a small group of people dedicated to a lot of psychological and social writings, studies, experiments. Generalizing knowledge we can distinguish the following types of relationships in a small group: formal and informal. In the first case cooperation is clearly regulated by legislative acts: have a boss and subordinates.

In the second case is much more complicated. Here, thanks to the personal qualities that defined the individual becomes the informal leader of the group. Such relationships are governed by nothing except the sympathy of other members of the small team. This position is often quite unstable: it is possible to have multiple leaders, lack of any competition between participants, a reluctance to accept an extended role and other problems in communication and the distribution of social roles.

Don't underestimate the role of informal relations. Often such alliances lead to changes in the formal circles of leaders.

What is the status of the individual in a small group?

Every person in society, and the team in particular, has a certain status. To determine it, you need to answer the question: who is this man? At birth can be assigned, for example, race and gender. The status can be acquired or achieved, for example, a doctor or philosopher.

To Determine the status of the individual in the group by using sociometric methods. In educational institutions, workers ' organizations often conduct surveys, which ask questions about personal relationships of some members of the group to others. Held most often in the formcards surveys, or complete the matrix, where the scale is an indication of the level of sympathy for another person. For example, asked to name the classmate who enjoys the greatest authority in the classroom. On the basis of the responses received using a specially designed key identify informal leaders, artists, and other statuses of the participants.

When choosing the means and methods of psychological research of social roles in the team professionals is critical to the validity of the results obtained to take into consideration what types of small groups taking part in the survey.

the Concept and types of small groups

The Concept of leadership in a small group

An Active issue of leadership became engaged psychologists and scientists in the early twentieth century. Why are some people able to lead others? What you must have and what qualities you need to do this? Unfortunately, until today the exact answers to these questions because no one gave. One person can become a leader under certain conditions and in specific group of people, while in the other group he is completely lost and will perform a subtle role. For example, the leader of a sports team is not always able to adequately Express themselves in the group of intellectuals. Therefore, the leader – it is, rather, the person who correctly weighed their options, identify goals and solutions to problems in specific conditions.

There are certain psychological works, which assess the necessary personal qualities of a leader. The most popular is the method of “big five” R. Hogan, which shows the 5 most important traits of a person claiming to be the leader in the team.

What is the role of the leader in a small group of people? It is easy to conclude that the head – is the man who in positive terms leading the team to achieve objectives, and when negative can not only achieve the desired outcome group, but to completely destroy it as such.

Types of small groups in psychology

Management of small groups

To organize, implement tasks and goals, improvement, development and achievement of small group you want to manage. How can it perform? Regardless of what formed the types of small groups in social psychology to distinguish between several leadership styles:

  1. Authoritarian style is in marked superiority of the leader over other members of the group, who are the only performers.
  2. Liberal style involves a collective effort of each and every group member.
  3. Democratic style is that the leader guides the participants to certain actions, coordinating and discussing the process with each participant.

To summarize, it can be noted that the types of small groups in psychology, the concept of inaccurate, changing under the influence of external factors and conditions. But a Manager of any team should be attentive to the formation of both formal and informal unions. Because such groups with the right targeted approach can ensure the development of all staff, lead to improvements in the performance and effective implementation of the tasks.


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Alin Trodden - author of the article, editor
"Hi, I'm Alin Trodden. I write texts, read books, and look for impressions. And I'm not bad at telling you about it. I am always happy to participate in interesting projects."

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